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Advances in sheet metal forming technologies

Article · January 2012

DOI: 10.7862/rm.2012.12

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ZESZYTY NAUKOWE POLITECHNIKI RZESZOWSKIEJ Nr 284
Mechanika z. 84 (4/12) 2012

Tomasz TRZEPIECIŃSKI
Rzeszow University of Technology

ADVANCES IN SHEET METAL FORMING

TECHNOLOGIES

In the article the changes associated with construction of machines used in die and
die-less sheet metal forming have been presented. The selected future directions of
development in new technologies and machines for sheet metal forming taking into
account modern blank holding systems in the process of deep drawing have been
indicated. Also the tendencies in introduction of new technologies and moderniza-
tion of presently used technologies in order to increase productivity have been dis-
cussed.
Keywords: blankholder, blankholder system, deep drawing, sheet metal forming

1. Introduction
The development of power transmission systems of modern machines re-
sults in replacement of mechanical drives by hydrostatic, electrical and hybrid
drives. The control of technological machines for metal forming is based on
computer numerical control (CNC) systems and programmable logic controllers
(PLC) as well as digital linear actuators. Mechanical transport mechanisms are
replaced by robots and manipulators with higher adaptivity. Together with de-
velopment of hydraulic and pneumatic drives, servo drives and digital linear
drives it is possible to optimize the operating space of machines and to decrease
the material consumption index. The most important characteristics of CNC
machines used in sheet metal forming compared to the conventional machines
are:
• automatic control systems feedback with control computer,
• many axes numerically controlled,
• application of automatic tool changer systems and 3-axis automatic
modular transport systems,
• automatic diagnostic systems of collision and errors of primary control
program,
• application of servo drives and precise toothed bars allowing to minimize
clearances.
60 T. Trzepieciński

Introducing into the market new constructional solutions of machines is

connected with analysis of raising expectation of dimensional accuracy of prod-
ucts, processing speed, forming forces as well as static and dynamic rigidity [1].
Analysing the machine market over last few years it can be observed, that pro-
ducers are concentrated on elastic adaptation of machines for industrial con-
sumer needs [2].

2. Deep drawing
The development of sheet metal forming presses is connected with growing
requirements of automotive industry and is focused on improvement of material
flow and modernization of press driver. Increasing of material flow rat is real-
ized by connection of press lines by using robots and 3-axis transfer machines
with modular transport systems [3]. Presently used autogenous press lines are
composed with autonomous systems of material supply, manipulation and trans-
port of finished products [4]. The CNC controlling in hydraulically driver form-
ing presses enables regulation of forming force and speed of press ram in the
whole range of slide motion. The servo drive of crank presses allows for selec-
tion of drawing characteristics with codominant lower energy-consumption
compared to the classical drives.
The introducing into the market servomotors coupled with programmable
PLC controllers by SEYI enables modification of stamping process characteris-
tics and it is possible to set up low rotational speed of crankshaft. The example
of usage direct servo drive press SD series is pressing with programmable pul-
sating motion that reduces undesirable residual stresses in a drawpiece [5, 6].
The innovative compact design of the press frame is combined with its own mo-
tor design – specially developed, low speed servomotor with high torque and
low energy consumption. Combined with an easy-to-operate, free programmable
control system, it is possible to achieve dramatically reduced power consump-
tion, improve productivity and extend tool life by 5-10 times.
Progress in sheet metal forming technology is also connected with devel-
opment of new techniques and machines for sheet metal cutting [7]. Moderniza-
tion of sheet-metal forming presses is connected not only with development of
traditional stamping methods but also there is the extensive growth of new ma-
chines using a multi-segmented flat and tapered blankholders [8], pulsatory and
elastic blankholders [9], intelligent multi input multi output (MIMO) systems
with numerically controlled blankholder force (BHF) [10, 11].
Advances in sheet metal forming technologies 61

3. Progress in blankholder systems

In the pulsating blankholder system the blankholder is subjected to a vibra-
tory (pulsating) force. The metal flowing into the bottom die is subjected to in-
termittent pressure at a frequency of up to 20 Hz. The material flow much better
under the blankholder without the disadvantages of an essential low hold-down
force. Increase of pulsation amplitude of the blank holder leads to decrease of
frictional resistance and has a decisive effect on drawpiece quality [12]. Some
researches [13, 14] concluded that the increase of the frequency of the vibration
leads to increase in the drawability and also results in a general decrease in thin-
ning in comparison to the constant BHF. A pulsatory blankholder scheme could
lead to reduction of the friction forces between the blankholder and blank, with-
out increasing the danger of wrinkling and rapture [15]. The newest tendencies
to minimize the punch force and increase in limiting draw ratios affected the
development of friction-actuated blank-holding technique [16] and elastic (pli-
able) blankholders [17]. Blank holding is induced by applying a pressure on the
upper surface of the elastic ring plate, which upon deflection would conform to
the flange surface [12]. Application of elastically deformable thin plate instead
of classical rigid blankholder aims at enhancing more uniform contact conditions
nearly all over the flange zone in contrast to the contact at the outer rim of the
flange which is dominant in the case of the conventional rigid blankholder. Pre-
sent effort is made to develop effective optimization techniques and devices to
control process parameters and optimize the blankholder schemes. Based on the
punchless deep drawing process [18] a new eight segments flat blankholder de-
vice was proposed [19]. This device is made by fitting four flat small wedges in
the gaps between the four flat drawing segments. In the case of forming thin
sheets, a crack was observed due to the localized intensive shear deformation at
the boundaries between the drawing segments and the wedges. To eliminate this
defect a friction aided deep drawing process using tapered blankholder divided
into four segments was proposed [20]. The blankholder is made by cutting
a tapered steel blankholder into eight segments. It consists of a stationary base
and eight tapered drawing segments that have similar planes of 5° taper angle
(Fig. 1c). The drawing segments can slide in radial direction under a constant
speed over the tapered surfaces of the stationary base. In the first drawing step,
deformation starts when four facing segments move radially inward to the die
opening in the A-direction as shown in Fig. 1a. The other four segments in the
B-direction move in the reverse direction, i.e. downward and radial outward
opposite to the drawing direction as shown in Fig. 1b. In the A-direction the
blank sheet and the die are lifted up (Fig. 1b), while in the B-direction there is no
contact between the sheet and segments (Fig. 1c).
62 T. Trzepieciński

F1

F2

Fig. 1. Schematic of eight segments tapered blankholder (a) and schematic

of die in motion (b, c)

The flexible manufacturing system using multi-point forming (MPF) tech-

nology is an advanced digital tooling system for the automatic fabrication of 3D
surface parts [21]. The main characteristic of the deformation method is given by
the active surface discrete design of the forming elements which are composed
of a number of pins, vertically aligned, according with the geometry of the part
[22]. The surface tooling in reconfigurable multipoint forming (RMF) is based
on the concept of a die continuous surface discrete approximation (Fig. 2a). Us-
age of multi-point dies (Fig. 2b) mounted on special multipoint press machine
(Fig. 2c) allows to obtain drawpieces with higher shape precision and under the
decreased forming force, compared to traditional deep drawing.
Based on the MPF methodology, an innovative dieless tooling (DT) and
jigless tooling (JT) system is being developed. The DT/JT system integrates the
technology of MPF with the technology of computer-aided and computer-
controlled manufacturing.
Overcoming mass production problems following try-out, new press tech-
nologies continuously emerge as new techniques and ideas in sheet metal form-
ing are considered in press design. Controlling the flow of sheet metal via con-
trollable multi-cylinder blankholder actuators reduces die-try out time by cutting
down on die work [23-25]. The application of multi-input multi-output (MIMO)
stamping process controller especially in case of forming complex-geometry
parts allows to apply the non-uniform BHF in different regions of the drawpiece
[23, 26].
Advances in sheet metal forming technologies 63

Fig. 2. Reconfigurable surface tooling (a), multi-punch stamping die (b) and multipoint forming
press machine YAM8-315 (c), prepared on the basis of [21, 23]

The deep drawing processes usually were done in the double-acting presses
(most often used) with two rams or in the single-acting presses with a cushion
system in the press table. In some single-acting presses, hydraulic cylinders are
installed at the four corner points of the press table. Each cylinder has its own
proportional or servo valve so that specific BHF can be run over the stroke for
each cylinder. The BHF is transmitted from the cushion plate to the blankholder
by several cushion pins. Numerically controlled height-adjustable cushion pins
in hydromechanical multipoint cushion system have been recently developed
[27]. Each cushion pin has its own load cell to monitor the BHFs, which are
introduced to the blankholder. In the flexible die blankholder system the blank-
holder is made from a nylon-based thermoplastic material and designed with
pyramid-shaped steel inserts (Fig. 3). The BHFs are introduced into the pyramid-
shaped steel inserts (top down), so there is a clear correspondence between the
BHF and the pressure-influenced base area of the pyramid. Between the stiff
steel inserts, the flexible plastic material acts like elastic links.

Fig. 3. Multi-point blankholder, where: A1-A3 – flat surfaces, BHF (1- n) blankholder forces
64 T. Trzepieciński

4. Development of other innovative processes

Development of innovative sheet metal forming technologies in last years
determines progress in control systems and construction of presses and tools.
Considerable growth of forming techniques may be noticed in hydroforming,
electromagnetic metal forming, sheet metal forming with elastic tools, cavity
forming processes (pneumatic bulging) of superplastic sheet metal forming, laser
forming and laser assisted forming, magnetic-pulse forming, shot peen forming
and methods of incremental forming.
Sheet hydroforming (SHF) is a technology that uses hydraulic fluid taken to
very high pressure as an essential tool in transforming sheet metal and tubes
fitted to a specially designed die. Sheet hydroforming technology is classified
into SHF with a punch (SHF-P) and SHF with a die (SHF-D) depending on
whether a punch or a die will be used to form the blank. In hydroforming proc-
esses there is a possibility to make complex metal parts, with special curves,
even with unusual shapes and a possibility to reduce the number of components
in a product, resulting in economic savings and increased performance. Nowa-
days, SHF is widely accepted for the industrial produced components character-
ized by fine surface quality, accurate dimensions, high drawing ratios, and com-
plex shapes [28]. Multi-stage SHF increases the formability of structural parts
[29]. SHF technologies are now commonly used in automotive industries to
produce fuel tanks and tubular parts for exhaust systems. The last technological
development in hydroforming techniques consists of combining tube bending,
tube hydroforming and tube welding in a flexible manner using reconfigurable
machine tool equipments easily adaptable to various production batches [30].
Flexforming is a type of hydroforming process in which the sheet metal is forced
to take the shape of a rigid die by the action of fluid pressure which acts through
a rubber diaphragm (Fig. 4). In this process there is only a single rigid die pro-
viding low die costs, the easy modification of the dies after changes leading to
fast tryouts, and finally high quality parts. The flexforming process needs

Fig. 4. The schematic representation of the flexforming process

Advances in sheet metal forming technologies 65

special presses to stand for high pressures up to 80 MPa in the pressure chamber.
Sheet metal forming with elastic tools is commonly used in aircraft industry,
especially for forming stainless steels nickel alloys sheets.
In order to reduce setup time of production and production cost in small
batch production the incremental forming (IF) may be used. IF is dieless forming
process and has demonstrated its great potential to form complex three-
dimensional parts with using a relatively simple and low cost tools. The theory is
that delaminating a complex surface 3D digital model along the contour line, and
forming a series of section 2D data, the doing plastic forming from the top to the
bottom level by level and part by part according to the section 2D data. Negative
dieless incremental forming, also known as single point incremental forming
(SPIF) is the earliest form of incremental forming. Positive die-less incremental
forming is also referred to as two point incremental sheet forming (TPIF). The
main advantages of incremental forming are high process flexibility, relatively
low hardware costs and enhanced formability (Fig. 5) [31, 32]. A greater defor-
mation of a sheet metal can be achieved in the incremental forming compared to
conventional forming [33]. The forming limit curve, which depicts the formabil-
ity in the major and minor strain space, is expressed as a straight line with a
negative slope. It is noted [33] that formability is the greatest under plane-strain
stretching, during which the minor strain is zero. Potential application areas of
IF include aerospace industry, biomedical applications and prototyping in the
automotive industry.

incremental forming
minor strain ε2

conventional
forming
Fig. 5. Forming limit curve in IF compared to conven-
tional forming limit curve: material with good formabil-
ity (aluminium) minor strain ε1

One variant of SPIF method is forming by water jet [34] as a forming tool,
where the metallic contact between forming tools and the sheet was eliminated.
This new variant such as the water jet system is a force controlled operation
whereas the numerically controlled tool system used in SPIF is a displacement
controlled system. Water jet forming is a special variant of incremental forming,
where a high-pressure water jet has replaced the common steel punch. In water
jet forming process a can is placed inside a mould (die) and over a set of rotating
66 T. Trzepieciński

nozzles – typically 2 (Fig. 6). The rotating nozzles produce columnated (straight)
high pressure water jets that spray against the can wall and push the can wall
outwards. At the same time the nozzles move vertically at a constant speed, so
that the point of impact of the water jet travels over the can wall in a spiral tra-
jectory [34]. Typical parameters of the water jet forming process are: nozzle
rotation 5000 rpm, water pressure 100-350 bar.
To form hard deformable alloy sheets, especially magnesium and titanium
alloys, a hot incremental forming (HIF) has been developed [35]. Possibility to
realize IF in conventional CNC controlled machine causes that there is not ob-
served a significant progress in production of specialized CNC machines for
incremental forming. The exceptions are machines of AMINO Corp. series
DLNC with movable table and with feeding speed up to 60 m/min allowing to
form e.g., aluminium alloy sheets with thickness 0.5-5 mm and stainless steel
sheets with thickness up to 2 mm [6].

Fig. 6. Scheme of water jet forming process, prepared on

the basis of [34]

The electromagnetic forming process (EMF) is a highly dynamic process

using pulsed magnetic fields to form metals with high electrical conductivity
such as aluminium. In this process, deformation of the workpiece is driven by
the interaction of a current generated in the workpiece with a magnetic field
generated by a coil adjacent to it. Due to the process principle local workpiece
velocities of more than 300 m/s [36] are achievable within the EMF process,
whereby a high contact force between the workpiece and the die occurs during
the impact. The EMF technique is particularly attractive for the aerospace and
automotive industries due to several potential advantages over conventional
forming methods: low-cost single-side tooling, high speed (typical EMF current
pulse rise times are on the order of 20 µs and after electromagnetic launch de-
formation may persist for a time on the order of milliseconds) and precise proc-
ess control [37]. Compared with other sheet metal forming techniques, EMF
offers several advantages [38]. However, there are also a number of limitations
[38]:
Advances in sheet metal forming technologies 67

• only relatively thin-walled workpieces can be electromagnetically

formed,
• EMF does not lend itself to processes such as deep drawing where sig-
nificant material must be drawn in over the edges of the die with the aid
of lubricants,
• only highly conductive workpieces or workpieces with highly conductive
driver plates can be formed using this method.
Typical system for EMF process has been shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 7. EMF system with field shaper for compressing cylindrical

5. Conclusion
The development of computer numerical control machines for metal form-
ing is directed on improvement of part quality, increase of productivity with
concomitant performed economical and environmental protection aspects. In the
metal forming machines area the development progression in automatic tool
change system and part manipulation is evident. The technological progress is
connected with introducing into the market self-service machines and autonomic
modular machine production lines. With the CNC machines for metal forming
simultaneously the development of systems for simulation of metal forming
processes based on computer modelling is observed. Modern metal forming
machine tools must conform to the current level of automated production, there-
fore they are equipped in monitoring and diagnostic system. Control systems of
68 T. Trzepieciński

metal forming parameters are equipped in intelligent functions enable to on-line

processing. Two main progress directions should be taken into consideration at
further development of sheet metal forming technology. Firstly, the costs of
development and production of new machines for forming of complex shell parts
are extremely high and should be reduced. Secondly, it is necessary to reduce the
time for developing, designing and producing the dies for the production of
parts.

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POSTĘPY W TECHNOLOGIACH KSZTAŁTOWANIA BLACH

Streszczenie

W artykule przedstawiono zmiany zachodzące w budowie maszyn stosowanych w technolo-

giach matrycowego i bezmatrycowego kształtowania blach. Wskazano wybrane kierunki rozwoju
technologii i maszyn do kształtowania blach, uwzględniając nowoczesne systemy docisku blachy
stosowane w tłocznikach. Przedstawiono także tendencje we wprowadzaniu nowych technologii
oraz modernizacji obecnie stosowanych celem zwiększania produktywności.
Słowa kluczowe: dociskacz, system docisku, tłoczenie, obróbka blach

DOI: 10.7862/rm.2012.12

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